J.J. Redick had a classic story from his first conversation with Zion Williamson
"Don't (expletive) this up for me."
J.J. Redick has played in the NBA for 13 seasons. His team has made the playoffs in every single one of those seasons.
That streak of playoff appearances will face its biggest challenge in 2019 after he signed a two-year deal with the Pelicans. New Orleans, of course, struck big on the draft lottery and selected Zion Williamson. But this is still a team with plenty of questions and heavily dependent on unproven talent from the Lakers-Anthony Davis trade.
Redick, having 13 years of postseason experience, obviously had plenty to offer to Zion from a leadership standpoint. But Redick absolutely didn’t want the fellow Blue Devil to think that he’d let him off easily if that playoff streak came to an end this season.
Redick and Williamson both recalled their first conversation with each other at Pelicans media day, and it was spectacular.
Redick said:
“My first conversation — real conversation — with Zion was a couple weeks ago. We got to chat for 20 minutes or so after one of the workouts. And the last thing I said to him. I said, ‘Look, man, don’t (expletive) this up for me.'”
And yes, Zion confirmed that Redick really did say that:
“He did. He did. It was so funny. He was like — he had just given me some great advice, and then the whole mood shifted. He was like, ‘I’m 13 for 13. Don’t mess this up for me.’ I’m like, ‘JJ, why are you telling me? I’m a rookie.'”
No pressure, Zion. You only have to carry the burden of J.J. Redick’s legacy. No pressure at all.